“Bugonia”, the new film by Yorgos Lanthimos, acquired by Focus Features

Getty Images

Focus Features has acquired world rights to Yorgos Lanthimos’ latest project Bugoniathe remake of the South Korean sci-fi comedy Let’s save the green planet, which sees the Greek director once again reunite with Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons. The trio is here in Cannes with their Competition title Kinds of Kindnesswhich had its world premiere on Friday.

Focus will be released Bugonia in the United States, with Universal Pictures distributing the title internationally (excluding South Korea). This is the second deal for Focus Features announced at Cannes this week (Focus has picked up Woody Harrelson to star Last breath a few days ago), but this one will be a notable coup for the studio given that Lanthimos’ previous Oscar-winning titles The favourite And Poor things as well as the Cannes candidate Kinds of Kindness were all handled by Searchlight for distribution.

Bugonia follows two conspiracy-obsessed young men who kidnap the powerful CEO of a major corporation, convinced that she is an alien intent on destroying planet Earth. It’s another reteam for Lanthimos with producers Ed Guiney and Andrew Lowe of Element Pictures, who will produce with Lanthimos, Ari Aster and Lars Knudsen of Square Peg, Stone through his Fruit Tree banner, and Jerry Kyoungboum Ko of CJ ENM.

It will be an English version of the 2003 South Korean sci-fi comedy. Let’s save the green planetwhich enjoyed huge success on the international festival circuit and won two Korean Film Awards.

“Yorgos Lanthimos is a cinematic visionary with a singular style that has captivated audiences around the world,” said Peter Kujawski, president of Focus Features. “We couldn’t be more excited to partner with him, Emma and the incredible teams at Element, Square Peg and CJ ENM to reimagine this twisted and darkly funny story.”

Guiney and Lowe added: “We are very much looking forward to working with the brilliant team at Focus Features and are delighted to reunite with Yorgos, Emma and Jesse as well as many of the great team we have collaborated with on recent films. “

Kyongboum Ko added, “I am excited to present the intriguing story rooted in the hidden gem of Korean cinema, in collaboration with the ideal team of talents and producers, alongside the reliable studio. I hope Yorgos triggers a dynamic chemical fusion with his unique style and novelty of the narrative.

Christian Vesper, CEO of Global Drama in Fremantle, added: “We are delighted that Fremantle is joining Yorgos’ latest project and are proud to support the wonderful team at Element. Yorgos’ films are always innovative and captivating, and we’re thrilled to join him and all the wonderful partners on Bugonia.”

Fremantle took a majority stake in Element Pictures in 2022. The Irish-Anglo company, which is among Deadline’s Cannes Disruptors 2024, is coming to Cannes this year with three films in the official selection: Title in competition Kinds of Kindness, which reunites Lanthimos with his longtime writing partner Efthimis Filipou; The first film of French actress Ariane Labed September says; And I’m not a witch second feature film by director Rungano Nyoni Become a guinea fowl.

RELATED: ‘Becoming a Guinea Fowl’ Review: Family Secrets Unveil in Rungano Nyoni’s Zambian Funeral Drama – Cannes Film Festival